Chapman places Tereschuk on leave

After 10 years at Chapman University, baseball coach Tom Tereschuk is sidelined.

Tereschuk – the winningest coach in Division III college baseball – was reportedly placed on leave on March 28 for using profanity around his team. The school's website still lists Tereschuk as the head coach but associate head coach Dave Edwards has been leading the team in his absence.

The university is conducting an investigation and released the following statement to the Register on Monday.

"While Chapman University does not comment on confidential personnel matters, we value treating all people with dignity and respect, and take seriously any allegations of incivility or harassment directed toward our students or other members of the university community. When the University receives complaints of potential violations of our policies, it is required to conduct an investigation, and does so in a careful and unbiased manner."

Two players described Tereschuk's coaching methods as "belittling" and "vulgar" to The Panther student newspaper last week.

The situation comes on the heels of a scandal at Rutgers University in which coach Mike Rice was fired after practice videos showed him using physical and verbal abuse against his players.

The Register sent emails and placed phone calls to Tereschuk, Athletic Director David Currey and associate athletic director Terry Boesel, none of which were returned. A request to speak with Edwards was declined.

"Dave Currey called me in to talk to me a little bit," assistant athletic director Ken Visser said Monday. "He said they were looking into something in regard to Tom."

Chapman has been the only stop in Tereschuk's collegiate coaching career. He won a national championship with the panthers in 2003, his first season. He is the only Chapman baseball coach to amass 300 career victories.